ascena retail group, inc. Reports Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2018 Results; Comparable Sales Up 4%; GAAP EPS of $0.17; Adjusted EPS of $0.07

Business Wire 24-Sep-2018 4:05 PM

Full Year Fiscal 2019 Comparable Sales Expected Up Low Single Digits, with Adjusted EPS of $0.00 to $0.10

ascena retail group, inc. (Nasdaq - ASNA) ("ascena" or the "Company") today reported financial results for its fiscal fourth quarter and full year ended August 4, 2018. Fiscal 2018 reflected a 53-week fiscal year for the Company, and as a result, the Company's fourth quarter GAAP results for Fiscal 2018 reflected a 14-week period for its Value Fashion, Plus Fashion, and Kids Fashion segments, while adjusted results reflected a 13-week period comparable to the prior year 13-week period.

For the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2018, the Company reported GAAP income of $0.17 per diluted share compared to a GAAP loss of $0.08 per diluted share in the year-ago period, based on a 4% comparable sales increase and the benefit of an additional week related to the Company's fiscal calendar. For the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2018, the Company reported adjusted earnings of $0.07 per diluted share compared to adjusted earnings of $0.05 per diluted share in the year-ago period.

For full year Fiscal 2018, the Company reported a GAAP loss of $0.20 per diluted share reflecting a comparable sales decline of 2% and costs associated with the Company's Change for Growth transformation program, partially offset by the benefit of the additional week. The Company reported a GAAP loss of $5.48 per diluted share in the year-ago period which included a non-cash pre-tax impairment charge of $1.324 billion to write down a portion of the Company's goodwill and other intangible assets. Adjusted earnings for full year Fiscal 2018 were a loss of $0.02 per diluted share compared to adjusted earnings of $0.22 per diluted share in the year-ago period.

David Jaffe, Chief Executive Officer of ascena retail group, inc., commented, "Our fourth quarter reflected sequential comp improvement across all our brands, and the first enterprise-level positive comp quarter for ascena since the second quarter of Fiscal 2015. Comparable sales increased 4%, and excluding dressbarn, all brands delivered positive comps. Specific to dressbarn, we delivered a 9 percentage point sequential comparable sales improvement from our third quarter, and have fully reset the brand's inventory position heading into Fiscal 2019. Adjusted earnings per share of 7 cents came in above our guide, and while we were pleased with progress for the quarter, it represents only the first step in our road back to realizing ascena's full earnings potential."

Jaffe continued, "We continue to make good progress across the three pillars of our Change for Growth transformation program. We remain on track to achieve $300 million in annual run rate savings by July 2019, and are currently implementing the two remaining large capability-building components of our transformation program - localized planning and our customer experience management ecosystem. And as we enter Fiscal 2019, we are leveraging the foundation we've built over the past two years to pivot the organization toward the most critical pillar of our transformation program - reinvigorating growth from our core."

Jaffe concluded, "We remain committed to realizing the full value of our brand portfolio and platform capability. At the core of future shareholder value creation is the promise of a highly differentiated and growing group of leading brands, supported by a cost efficient infrastructure. We entered Fiscal 2019 with good base momentum, and key growth initiatives beginning to gain traction across our brands. We are making headway with stabilization of our dressbarn brand, and will continue to explore opportunities across our brand portfolio to create shareholder value."

Fiscal Fourth Quarter Results - Consolidated

Overview

The current and prior year results include items that the Company does not believe reflect the fundamental performance of the Company's business. A summary of the items impacting both periods is presented in Notes 1 and 2 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial information, which is included herein.

Net Sales and Comparable Sales

Net sales for the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2018 were $1,766 million compared to $1,658 million in the year-ago period, with the increase caused by a 4% increase in comparable sales and approximately $88 million of sales associated with the additional week. The Company's comparable sales data and Net sales are summarized below:

Gross margin

Gross margin increased to $1,015 million, or 57.5% of sales, for the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2018 compared to $951 million, or 57.4% of sales in the year-ago period. Gross margin dollars increased from the year-ago period as a result of increased comparable sales and approximately $50 million associated with the additional week. Gross margin rate increased 10 basis points, with strong rate improvement at our Premium Fashion and Kids Fashion segments mostly offset by declines at our Plus Fashion and Value Fashion segments. In our Plus Fashion segment, merchandise margin increased from the year-ago period, reflecting improving assortment performance and disciplined inventory management, with the offset caused primarily by higher freight expense resulting from increased digital penetration. The decline in our Value Fashion segment was caused primarily by lower clearance price points at dressbarn.

Buying, distribution, and occupancy expenses

Buying, distribution, and occupancy ("BD&O") expenses for the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2018 increased to $324 million, which represented 18.4% of sales, compared to $320 million, or 19.3% of sales in the year-ago period and included approximately $3 million of expense associated with the additional week. In terms of dollars, lower occupancy expenses resulting from our fleet optimization program were more than offset by higher variable distribution costs related to the increased penetration of our direct channel business and the expenses associated with the additional week.

Selling, general, and administration expenses

Selling, general, and administrative ("SG&A") expenses for the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2018 increased 5% to $527 million, or 29.8% of sales, compared to $500 million, or 30.1% of sales in the year-ago period. The increase in SG&A expenses was primarily due to $18 million of expense associated with the additional week, inflationary increases and higher performance-based compensation, offset in part by approximately $30 million in synergies and cost reduction initiatives.

Operating income (loss)

Operating income for the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2018 was $53 million compared to an operating loss of $9 million in the year-ago period. The increase in the current year primarily reflects the impact of the additional week, which generated approximately $30 million, lower costs associated with the Change for Growth transformation program as well as lower acquisition-related costs. On a non-GAAP adjusted basis, operating income was $43 million in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2018, compared to $44 million in the year ago period as the growth from the comparable sales increase and the impact of the cost savings initiatives were offset by inflationary increases and higher performance-based compensation.

Benefit for income taxes

For the three months ended August 4, 2018, the Company recorded a tax benefit of $16 million on pre-tax income of $18 million. The benefit primarily reflects adjustments related to the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act recorded during the quarter.

Net income (loss) and net income (loss) per diluted share

The Company reported Net income of $33 million, or $0.17 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2018, compared to a net loss of $16 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, in the year-ago period.

Fiscal Fourth Quarter Balance Sheet Highlights

Cash and cash equivalents

The Company ended the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2018 with Cash and cash equivalents of $239 million.

Inventories

The Company ended the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2018 with inventory of $623 million, down 3% from the year-ago period.

Capital expenditures

Capital expenditures totaled $54 million in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2018, primarily to support new capabilities and strategic initiatives. Full year Fiscal 2018 capital expenditures totaled $181 million.

Debt

The Company ended the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2018 with total debt of $1,372 million, which represents the balance remaining on the term loan. There were no borrowings outstanding under the Company's revolving credit facility at the end of the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2018. In addition, the Company had $473 million of borrowing availability under its revolving credit facility. During the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2018, the Company repaid $203 million of its term loan and its next scheduled repayment is in November of calendar year 2020.

Fiscal Year 2019 Full Year Outlook

The Company is re-instituting full year guidance and expects Fiscal 2019 full year non-GAAP earnings per share ranging from $0.00 to $0.10, supported by the following assumptions:

- Net sales of $6.45 to $6.55 billion- Comparable sales up low single digits;- Gross margin rate of 57.6% to 58.1%;- Operating expense growth of approximately 1%;- Depreciation and amortization of $327 to $332 million;- Operating income of $120 to $140 million;- Interest expense of approximately $112 million;- Income taxes approximately $8 million reflecting a 21% tax rate and minimum taxes; and- Diluted share count of 200 million.

Full year capital expenditures are expected in the range of $180 to $210 million, and the Company expects to close approximately 5% of its Fiscal 2018 year-end fleet, with store count dropping into the range of 4,375 to 4,425 by July 2019.

Fiscal Year 2019 First Quarter Outlook

Fiscal year 2019 first quarter non-GAAP earnings per share is estimated in the range of $(0.04) to $0.06, reflecting a collective unfavorable timing impact of approximately $0.10 related to the additional week in Fiscal 2018, which shifted the peak Justice back-to-school week from week 1 of Fiscal 2019 to week 52, and timing related to the adoption of the revenue recognition accounting pronouncement, Accounting Standards Update 2014-19, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers." The Company's estimated Fiscal 2019 first quarter earnings per share outlook is supported by the following assumptions:

- Net sales of $1.54 to $1.56 billion;- Comparable sales flat to up 2%;- Gross margin rate of 60.0% to 60.5%;- Operating expense growth of 1% to 2%;- Depreciation and amortization expense of approximately $84 million;- Operating income of $22 to $42 million;- Interest expense of approximately $27 million;- Income taxes of approximately $3 million reflecting a 21% tax rate and minimum taxes; and- Diluted share count of 200 million.

Real Estate

The Company's store information on a brand-by-brand basis for the fourth quarter is as follows:

The Company closed a net 185 stores during Fiscal 2018 which primarily reflects its continuing fleet optimization program. Under the program, the Company has realized approximately $50 million in annualized rent reductions through landlord negotiations.

Conference Call Information

The Company will conduct a conference call today, September 24, 2018, at 4:30 PM Eastern Time to review its fourth quarter and full year Fiscal 2018 results, followed by a question and answer session. Parties interested in participating in this call should dial in at (877) 930-8316 prior to the start time, the conference ID is 2494585. The call will also be simultaneously broadcast at www.ascenaretail.com. A recording of the call will be available shortly after its conclusion and until October 1, 2018 by dialing (855) 859-2056, the conference ID is 2494585, and until October 24, 2018 via the Company's website at www.ascenaretail.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Results

As noted above, the comparability of the Company's operational results for the periods presented herein has been affected by certain transactions. The Company believes that non-GAAP financial measures, when reviewed in conjunction with GAAP financial measures, can provide more information to assist investors in evaluating current period performance, trends and period-over-period comparative results. Non-GAAP measures eliminate amounts that do not reflect the fundamental performance of the Company's businesses. Such items include costs such as (i) acquisition and integration expenses, (ii) restructuring, tangible asset impairments and other related charges including, but not limited to, charges incurred under the Company's Change for Growth initiative, and (iii) non-cash charges associated with purchase accounting adjustments related to the acquisition of ANN's assets and liabilities, primarily reflecting depreciation and amortization expense and lease-related adjustments, (iv) write-off of debt issuance costs associated with the extinguishment of debt, and (v) non-cash impairment charges of goodwill and other intangible assets. Additionally, our GAAP results for Fiscal 2018 reflect an additional week that was recorded by our Premium Fashion segment during the second quarter and our other segments during the fourth quarter, and certain other income tax related charges recorded in the second, third and fourth quarters. Reference is made to Notes 1 and 2 of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial information included herein for more information.

Many investors also use non-GAAP measures as a common basis for comparing the performance of different companies. A general limitation of non-GAAP measures is that they are not prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies due to differences in methods of calculation and excluded items. Non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, the Company's Operating income and Net income per common share, as well as other measures of financial performance and liquidity reported in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Additionally, a reconciliation of the projected non-GAAP EPS, which are forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures, to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, is not provided because the Company is unable to provide such reconciliation without unreasonable effort. The inability to provide a reconciliation is due to the uncertainty and inherent difficulty predicting the occurrence, the financial impact and the periods in which the non-GAAP adjustments may be recognized. These GAAP measures may include the impact of such items as restructuring charges, acquisition and integration related expenses, non-cash purchase accounting adjustments, and the tax effect of all such items. As previously stated, the Company has historically excluded these items from non-GAAP financial measures. The Company currently expects to continue to exclude such items in future disclosures of non-GAAP financial measures and may also exclude other items that may arise (collectively, "non-GAAP adjustments"). The decisions and events that typically lead to the recognition of non-GAAP adjustments, such as actions under the Company's Change for Growth program, or acquisition and integration expenses, are inherently unpredictable as to if or when they may occur. For the same reasons, the Company is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information, which could be material to future results.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made within this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Forward-looking statements are statements related to future, not past, events, and often contain words such as "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "seek," "see," "will," "would," "estimate," "forecast," "target," "preliminary," or "range," and include the Company's outlook for the first quarter and full year of Fiscal Year 2019. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or review its forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that our projected results expressed or implied will not be achieved. Detailed information concerning a number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the information contained herein is readily available in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

About ascena retail group, inc.

ascena retail group, inc. (NASDAQ:ASNA) is a leading national specialty retailer offering apparel, shoes, and accessories for women under the Premium Fashion segment (Ann Taylor, LOFT, and Lou & Grey), Value Fashion segment (maurices and dressbarn), Plus Fashion segment (Lane Bryant, Catherines and Cacique), and for tween girls under the Kids Fashion segment (Justice). ascena retail group, inc. operates ecommerce websites and approximately 4,600 stores throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

For more information about ascena retail group, inc. visit: ascenaretail.com, AnnTaylor.com, factory.anntaylor.com, LOFT.com, outlet.loft.com, louandgrey.com, maurices.com, dressbarn.com, lanebryant.com, Catherines.com, and shopjustice.com.

See accompanying notes.

See accompanying notes.

See accompanying notes.

Note 1. Basis of Presentation

Fiscal year 2018 ended on August 4, 2018 and reflected a 53-week period ("Fiscal 2018") as the Company conforms its fiscal periods to the National Retail Federation calendar. Fiscal year 2017 ended on July 29, 2017 and was a 52-week period ("Fiscal 2017").

The Company's Premium Fashion segment, which historically has followed the National Retail Federation calendar, recognized an additional week during the second quarter of Fiscal 2018, consistent with other retail companies already on that calendar. The Company's Value Fashion, Plus Fashion, and Kids Fashion segments recognized the additional week in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2018 due to reporting systems constraints.

As a result, the three and twelve months ended August 4, 2018 include the results of the Value Fashion, Plus Fashion and Kids Fashion segments for 14 and 53-weeks, respectively, while the results of the Premium Fashion segment are included for 13 and 53-weeks, respectively.

Note 2. Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The comparability of the Company's operational results reported in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") for the periods presented herein has been affected by certain transactions. The Company believes that the non-GAAP financial measures presented below, when reviewed in conjunction with GAAP financial measures, can provide more information to assist investors in evaluating current period performance, trends and period-over-period comparative results. Non-GAAP measures eliminate amounts that do not reflect the fundamental performance of the Company's businesses. These items include costs such as (i) acquisition and integration expenses, (ii) restructuring, tangible asset impairments and other related charges including, but not limited to, charges incurred under the Company's Change for Growth initiative, (iii) non-cash charges associated with purchase accounting adjustments related to the acquisition of ANN's assets and liabilities, primarily reflecting depreciation and amortization expense and lease-related adjustments, (iv) write-off of debt issuance costs associated with the extinguishment of debt, and (v) non-cash impairment charges of goodwill and other intangible assets. Additionally, as described in Note 1, our GAAP results for Fiscal 2018 reflect an additional week that was recorded by our Premium Fashion segment during the second quarter and our other segments during the fourth quarter, and certain other income tax related charges recorded in the second, third and fourth quarters.

Many investors also use non-GAAP measures as a common basis for comparing the performance of different companies. A general limitation of non-GAAP measures is that they are not prepared in accordance with GAAP and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies due to differences in methods of calculation and excluded items. Non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, the Company's Operating income and Net income per common share, as well as other measures of financial performance and liquidity reported in accordance with GAAP.

The following tables reconcile non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures and include Net sales, Gross margin, BD&O expense, SG&A expense, Depreciation and amortization expense, Operating (loss) income, Income tax benefit (provision), Net (loss) income, Diluted net (loss) income per common share and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, as adjusted ("Adjusted EBITDA") to Net income (loss) for all periods presented.

Note 2. Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures (continued)

Note 2. Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures (continued)

Note 2. Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures (continued)

Note 2. Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures (continued)

Note 2. Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures (continued)

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